**Side Hustles Are Becoming the New Normal: Why a Full-Time Job No Longer Guarantees Financial Security**
A growing share of American workers are discovering that a single full-time job is no longer enough to cover daily living expenses or reach savings goals. A July survey conducted by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and behavioral economics firm Escalent found that more than 60% of respondents have worked outside their primary roles, largely out of financial necessity. While 27% said their job covers their expenses, many still find it difficult to get ahead. As a Goldman Sachs Asset Management retirement report put it, „Employment remains essential for retirement security, but for many Americans, it is no longer sufficient.” This trend is especially pronounced among younger generations: Gen Zers are the most likely to say they earn or have earned money outside their main job, with millennials close behind—even though most of these workers report feeling financially stable in their primary roles.
The survey reveals that this reliance on extra income spans generations, with a majority of respondents saying they do gig or side work out of necessity or for financial security. „The traditional full-time job may no longer be carrying the full weight of financial security,” the report noted. „For many, supplementing income appears to have become part of the baseline.” The squeeze is real: wage growth has consistently fallen short of inflation, rising gas prices and everyday expenses are straining budgets, and finding a better-paying job isn’t always easy. The financial pressure is forcing many to postpone major life milestones. According to the report, 83% of Gen Zers and 78% of millennials said they have put major financial goals on hold—41% of millennials have delayed emergency savings despite being employed, and 30% have delayed housing or homebuying goals, compared with 35% and 34% of Gen Zers, respectively.
Some workers are taking income diversification even further. While many pick up part-time side jobs, others are „overemployed,” holding multiple full-time remote positions—one millennial famously worked five full-time remote IT jobs, earning over $700,000 annually, using the extra income to retire early or pay down debt. Others are building „portfolio careers,” piecing together different income streams such as a newsletter, a side gig, and an office job. Career coach Janel Abrahami describes this as „stability stacking,” explaining that decentralizing income protects workers from the emotional and financial shock of losing a single 9-to-5. For some, a side hustle can even become a full career pivot—Harlan Rappaport, in his 20s, turned his email marketing side hustle into a full-time career after working as an investment analyst, trading the corporate world for the freedom to travel, work from anywhere, and never miss family events.
**Key takeaways:**
– Over 60% of surveyed Americans have worked outside their primary jobs, mostly out of financial need.
– Gen Z and millennials are the most likely to take on side work, even while feeling stable in their main jobs.
– Wage growth lagging inflation is pushing workers to delay savings, homebuying, and other major financial goals.
– Side hustles, „portfolio careers,” and „overemployment” are emerging as strategies for financial security—and sometimes as pathways to entirely new careers.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-millennials-side-hustles-gig-economy-2026-10#article.